Container with tab

ABSTRACT

The invention relates, amongst others, to a container (1) for use in a beverage preparation machine. The container (1) comprises: a sealed body (2) for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage, the sealed body (2) comprising a back part and a front part (3), which are sealed along one or more first side edges (4). The front part (3) comprises one or more tabs (11, 21) integrally formed with the front part (3), wherein each of the one or more tabs (11, 21) has one or more second side edges (12-14, 14A, 22-14), wherein at least one of the one or more second side edges is at least in part complementary formed to the one or more first side edges (4).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container for use in a beveragepreparation machine and a process for obtaining a front part of such acontainer.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

A container for use in a beverage preparation machine may be a capsuleor a pod, e.g. a round coffee pod. The container or a part of thecontainer is typically manufactured by separating a blank. Theseparating process may be a cutting process such as punching, and theblank may be a sheet, for example from a roll of sheets or material. Theseparated blank is then subsequently formed and sealed with anotherseparated blank, for example separated from the same blank, therebymaking the container or at least a part of the container. The containermay contain an ingredient such as coffee or tea. The ingredient may bedosed before sealing so that the ingredient is contained in acompartment of the container.

The container needs to be handled by a user for being appropriately usedin the beverage preparation machine. In particular, the containerrequires a defined position and orientation with respect to the beveragepreparation machine so that the ingredients contained in the containercan be appropriately processed by the beverage preparation machine. Forexample, the container requires the defined position or orientation suchthat an identification code can be read by the beverage preparationmachine, or such that water can appropriately traverse the container foraccordingly preparing the beverage from the ingredients provided insideof the container. An easy use of the container for an appropriate use inthe beverage preparation machine is thus desired.

Separating the blank to form the container and in particular to form acomplex shape of the container, in particular for convenient handling ofthe container, is not ecologically friendly. This is because theseparation process results in that a certain and quite high percentageof the blank, i.e. of the roll material, remains in between the cut outblanks, out of which the container or the part of the container ismanufactured. Consequently, this remaining or unused material leads to asignificant amount of waste, thereby also increasing the costs ofproduction.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide acontainer and a process for manufacturing a container, which overcomethe aforementioned drawbacks. That is, it is in particular an object ofthe present invention to provide a container, which can be efficientlymanufactured and at the same time facilitates an easy use in a beveragepreparation machine.

These and other objects, which become apparent upon reading thefollowing description, are solved by the subject-matter of theindependent claims. The dependent claims refer to preferred embodimentsof the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, a container is providedfor use in a beverage preparation machine. The container comprises asealed body for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage suchas a coffee or tea, the sealed body comprising a back part and a frontpart, which are sealed along one or more first side edges. The frontpart comprises one or more tabs integrally formed with the front part,wherein each of the one or more tabs has one or more second side edges,wherein at least one (or each) of the one or more second side edges (ofthe respective tab) is at least in part complementary formed to the oneor more first side edges.

In the context of the present invention, a form is to be understood“complementary formed” to another form, when the forms can be connectedto each other such that substantially no clearance is formed between theforms, e.g. when a convex form and a concave form are defined bysubstantially the same diameter.

The one or more second side edges may be formed by obtaining one or morefurther front parts of different containers, such as by obtaining one ormore first side edges and/or one or more second side edges of thefurther front parts.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a container is providedfor use in a beverage preparation machine. The container comprises asealed body for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage suchas a coffee or tea, the sealed body comprising a back part and a frontpart, which are sealed along one or more first side edges. The frontpart comprises one or more tabs integrally formed with the front part,wherein each of the one or more tabs has one or more second side edges,wherein the one or more second side edges are formed by obtaining one ormore further front parts of other containers.

In other words, the design of the container(s) according to the presentinvention facilitates that a plurality of such containers or front partscan be put together like a jigsaw puzzle, e.g. forming a single piecewithout any clearances defined by the connection between the frontparts. Thereby, the container or front part can be produced with areduced amount of waste. That is, a significantly increased amount ofthe material, which would remain as waste after obtaining the respectivecontainer or front part and at least one further container or frontpart, is now used for the one or more tabs. The one or more tabs in turneffect an easier use of the container, since the one or more tabsprovide a structure for cooperating with the beverage preparationmachine and/or with the user, e.g. for easier handling and/or processingof the container. Thereby, the container in particular provides a moreefficient manufacturing, while at the same time providing an easier useof the container with respect to the beverage preparation machine.

The front part and the one or more further front parts may be obtainedfrom the same blank. This increases the efficiency of manufacturing thecontainer. Additionally or alternatively, the front part and the one ormore further front parts may be identically formed. “Identically formed”is to be understood such that the front part and the one or more furtherfront parts have the same form or shape, at least when viewed in a planview of the front parts, which may be a viewing direction beingperpendicular to a flat surface of the front parts or the blank, fromwhich the front parts are obtained. This increases the efficiency ofmanufacturing the container.

The one or more tabs may include a handling tab for handling thecontainer. The handling tab typically provides a surface adapted forbeing grasped by a user. The handling tab effects that a user can easilyhandle or (manually) manipulate the container, e.g. with respect to abeverage preparation machine, without touching or acting on the sealedbody or ingredient contained in the sealed body. For example, thehandling tab is provided such that a user can insert the container intothe beverage machine and easily remove or withdraw the container fromthe beverage preparation machine for disposing of the container, e.g.since the beverage preparation machine does not include a trash bin forthe container. When inserted in the beverage preparation machine, thehandling tab may extent in a direction to an outside of the beveragepreparation machine, so that a user can easily remove the container fromthe machine after use.

The one or more tabs may include an identification tab comprising(machine-readable) information, e.g. in the form of a code (2D-, 3D-,matrix-barcode, QR-code, RFID, etc.), for processing the container in abeverage preparation machine. The identification tab may bear theinformation, e.g. the information respectively code may be printed ontothe identification tab. The information may include information relatingto the ingredient of the container and/or information relating toprocess parameters for processing the container such as for processingthe ingredients contained in the sealed body. The identification 30 tabtherefore provides a surface, on which the information can be provided,so that there is in particular no need to provide the information onother parts of container, such as on the sealed body. Further, theidentification tab provides a good visibility of the information for areader of the beverage preparation machine. The reader of the beveragepreparation machine is usually adapted to automatically read theinformation, when the information provided on the identification tab isin the field of view of the reader. Therefore, the identification tabeffects a very easy reading of the information provided on theidentification tab by the dedicated information reader of the beveragepreparation machine. As such, the identification tab effects an easieruse of the container in a beverage preparation machine.

Preferably, the one or more tabs are shaped to bring the container in adefined position and/or orientation in a beverage preparation machine.For example, at least one or each of the one or more tabs, in particularthe one or more side edges of the respective tab, is at least in partshaped correspondingly to a part of the beverage preparation machine,thereby effecting the defined position and/or orientation with respectto the beverage preparation machine. In the defined position and/ororientation of the container, the container can be appropriatelyprocessed by the beverage preparation machine, and/or the informationprovided on the container, e.g. on the identification tab, can beappropriately read by the beverage preparation machine, and/or thehandling tab extends in a direction for any easy removal of thecontainer from the beverage preparation machine. Since a beveragepreparation machine may require that the information to be read isalways at the same place within the machine, i.e. in the field of viewof the reader of the beverage preparation machine, the one or more tabscan effectively effect that the information provided on the tab isalways in this place, when the container is used (inserted) in thebeverage preparation machine.

The tabs may extent in different directions. Thus, it is effectivelyprevented that one of the tabs, e.g. the handling tab, interferes with afurther one of the tabs, e.g. the identification tab, thereby increasingthe ease-of-use of the container. Additionally or alternatively, thetabs may be arranged to be diametrically opposed. This provides, inparticular, for a particularly easy use of the container, since due tothe relatively great distance between the tabs it is prevented that thetabs interfere with one another.

The tabs may extent in a same plane. In other words, the tabs may beobtained from the same blank having a flat surface, wherein said flatsurface substantially extents in only one plane. Therefore, thecompactness of the container is increased.

At least one of the one or more second side edges may be a side edgebeing laterally provided with respect to the respective tab. Since thelateral side of the tab is usually the longest side of the respectivetab, a relatively great amount of waste during obtaining the containercan be reduced.

At least one of the one or more second side edges may be a side edgebeing provided at a distal end of the respective tab. Therefore, arelatively long tab can be provided, since, when two front parts areobtained from the same blank, the distal end corresponding to the firstside edge can thus be formed by using the material extending up to thefirst side edge of the further front part. As such, the front part maycomprise, for example, only one tab for fulfilling different functions,e.g. the function of both the handling tab and the information tab, i.e.of both handling the container, and providing information.

The one or more second side edges of one of the tabs may include asecond side edge being complementary formed to a second side edge of afurther one of the tabs. In other words, by obtaining a second side edgeof one of the tabs, e.g. this second side edge being a distal end ofthis tab, at the same time a second side edge of a further tab, e.g.this (further) second side edge being also a distal end of this(further) tab, of a front part of another container can be obtained.

Therefore, a design of the container for more efficient manufacturing isprovided. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more second sideedges of the one or more tabs includes a second side edge being formedby obtaining one or more tabs of further front parts of othercontainers. Therefore, manufacturing of the container is more efficient.

At least one of the one or more second side edges may have a concaveshape, wherein the one or more first side edges have thus a convexshape. These complementary shapes or forms of the first and second sideedges are particularly advantageous for an efficient manufacturing ofthe container.

Each of the one or more tabs may have only three second side edges.These three second side edges may merge continuously or discontinuouslywith one another. Two of these second side edges may be laterallyprovided side edges of the respective tab, wherein the third of thesesecond side edges is provided at the distal end of the respective tab.In one embodiment, each of the (three) second side edges of a respectivetab is at least in part complementary formed to the one or more firstside edges. Therefore, a particularly great amount of waste duringmanufacturing of the container can be reduced. According to thisembodiment, a container with only one tab may be obtained. In anotherembodiment, only two of the second side edges of a respective tab, e.g.the laterally provided side edges, may be each at least in partcomplementary formed to the one or more first side edges, wherein, morepreferably, the third of the second side edges of the respective tab,e.g. provided at the distal end, is at least in part complementaryformed to the third of the second side edges of the respective othertab. Therefore, a particularly great amount of waste duringmanufacturing of the container can be reduced, while according to thisembodiment a container with at least or only two tabs can be veryefficiently obtained.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a process for obtainingone or more first front parts and (for obtaining) a second front partfrom a blank is provided. Each of the front parts may be a front part aspreviously described. Each front part is suitable for a container (e.g.as described above), wherein the container is adapted to be used in abeverage preparation machine, wherein the container comprises a sealedbody for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage, the sealedbody comprising a back part and the respective front part. The processcomprises the following steps: providing a blank for obtaining the frontparts, obtaining the one or more first front parts from the blank, andobtaining the second front part from the blank such that the secondfront part comprises one or more tabs with each tab comprising one ormore side edges, which one or more side edges are formed by obtainingthe one or more first front parts from the blank. The “second frontparts” may also refer to “the front parts”, wherein the “first frontparts” may also refer to the “further front parts”.

The process may also include the step of sealing together the one ormore first front parts and/or the second front parts with a respectiveback part, thereby forming a sealed body. The process may also includedosing of an ingredient (e.g., coffee or tea) for preparing a beverage,such that the respective sealed body contains the ingredient. Dosing maybe before the respective sealing.

The above-described advantages with respect to the container applylikewise to the process of the invention. In particular, the processfacilitates an efficient manufacturing of the one or more first frontparts and the second front part with a significantly reduced amount ofwaste. In other words, the process uses the material, which would remainas waste material, e.g. when the front parts would be obtained withoutany tab, as the one or more tabs being integrally provided with thesecond front part. Thus, a very efficient production of the front partrespectively container is achieved, while at the same time the frontpart respectively container can be more easily used by having the one ormore tabs.

The front parts may be obtained by a separation process. Therefore, thefront part is very efficiently obtained, in particular with a reducedamount of waste. In a possible embodiment, the front parts may beobtained by punching.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, the invention is described exemplarily with referenceto the enclosed figures, in which

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan (top) view of a front part of a containeraccording to a first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a blank for obtaining a plurality offront parts according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan (top) view of a front part of a containeraccording to a second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a blank for obtaining a plurality offront parts according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view, showing how a front part according to theembodiment shown in FIG. 3 is obtained from the blank shown in FIG. 4 ;and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the front part in FIG. 5 without the remainingblank.

In the figures, two preferred embodiments for a container 1 are shown.The container 1 is adapted for being used in a beverage preparationmachine, e.g. in a beverage preparation machine of the “Nespressoprofessional” type. Therefore, the container 1 may be adapted to betraversed by a flow of (pressurized and/or heated) water. The beveragepreparation machine may comprise a water tank, a heater for heating thewater from the water tank, and a pump for pumping the heated water. Thebeverage preparation machine may also include a holder adapted forholding the container 1. For example, the holder is adapted to hold thecontainer 1 in a position, in which the beverage preparation machine canproduce a beverage from the container 1 by the (heated and/orpressurized) water. The container 1 is not limited to a specificcontainer. For example, the container 1 may be a capsule or a pod.

The container 1 comprises a sealed body 2 for containing an ingredientfor preparing a beverage. The ingredient may be, for example, (ground)coffee or tea (tea leaves, herbal tea, fruits, herbs, spices, etc.) orany other plant material suitable for preparing a beverage, e.g. byextraction. The ingredient may also include additives such as milk orsugar. The beverage to be prepared may therefore be, for example, acoffee or a tea.

The sealed body 2 comprises a front part 3 and a back part. In thefigures, the back part is not shown, since the figures show a plan view,in which the viewing direction is perpendicular to a flat surface of thefront part 3. The back part is provided on a rear side of the front part3. The front part 3 and the back part are sealed at least along (only)one or more first side (or peripheral) edges 4. Thereby, the front part3 and the back part delimit a (closed and/or internal) compartment,which contains the ingredient. Each of the one or more first side edges4 may have a round or convex form (shape). In other examples, each ofthe one or more side edges 4 may also have a different shape, e.g. astraight, elliptical and/or polygonal shape. Sealing together the frontpart 3 and the back part may thus be in part along the one or more sideedges 4 and in part on other parts of the front part 3 and back part sothat a sealing path 5 is obtained, which is, for example, a closedsealing path 5. The sealing path 5 may have a shape corresponding to theone or more first side edges 4. For example, the sealing path 5 has around shape, in particular in the form of a (closed) circle. In otherexamples, the sealing path 5 may also have a polygonal form. Sealing maybe effected by a heat sealer. In other examples, an additional sealingelement, e.g. an adhesive bond element such as a glue, may be providedfor sealing together the front part 3 and the back part.

The front part 3 and/or the back part may be respectively provided in aformed state, i.e. having a three-dimensional extension. For example,the front part 3 and/or the back part may be initially provided in asubstantially flat state, in which the respective part has substantiallyonly a two-dimension extension. The front part 3 and/or the back partmay be brought from the flat state into the formed state by a formingprocess. The form of the front part 3 and/or the back part thus definesthe spatial extent of the compartment defined by the front part 3 andback part.

The back part may be adapted for injecting water into the container 1,i.e. in the compartment defined by the front part 3 and the back part.For example, the back part may be designed to be pierced by a needle,which needle thus injects water into the compartment. The front part 3may be adapted to discharge water from the compartment. That is, thewater enters the compartment via the back part, comes into contact withthe ingredients inside of the compartment, thereby e.g. extractingsoluble compounds or flavors from the ingredients, and is finallydischarged by way of the front part 3 for dispensing the beverage. Thefront part 3 may comprise a filter for preventing particles of theingredient to flow downstream of the front part 3. The front part 3 mayfunction as the filter. Alternatively, the filter may be providedseparately with respect to the front part 3, e.g. downstream or upstreamof the front part 3 with respect to the flow of discharging water.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the front part 3 comprisesonly one tab 11. The tab 11 is integrally formed with the front part 3,so that the front part 3 and the tab 11 are obtained from the same blank(raw material). The tab ii extends to an outside of the front part 3 orcontainer 1. For example, the tab 11 may extend from the sealing path 5,preferably such that the proximal end of the tab 11 is provided at thesealing path 5 or the sealing path 5 extends over the proximal end ofthe tab 11. The tab 11 may extent in a substantially flat manner, i.e.in substantially only one extension plane and with only one (relativelythin) thickness. The tab 11 may comprise a surface, wherein the surfaceis, for example, substantially parallel to the main extension plane ofthe front part 3.

The tab 11 may be a handling tab for handling the container 1, inparticular for inserting the container 1 into the beverage preparationmachine and for removing the container 1 from the beverage preparationmachine. Therefore, the surface of the tab 11 may be adapted for beinggrasped by a user. Thus, the surface may be provided such that graspingthe tab 11 or the surface does not interfere with the compartmentdefined by the back part and front part 3. For example, the surfacecomprises a defined or undefined structure, which aids in grasping thetab 11. The surface may be roughened so that a particularly easyhandling of the tab 11 and, thus, of the front part 3 and container 1 ispossible.

Additionally or alternatively, the tab 11 may be an identification tab.The tab 11 thus comprises information for processing the container 1 inthe beverage preparation machine. The process parameters may refer, forexample, to a water pressure and/or a water temperature and/or a fillingvolume of the beverage to be prepared. The information may be providedin the form of a code. For example, the tab 11 or the surface of the tab11 may comprise a machine-readable code comprising the information,wherein the machine-readable code can be read by a dedicated reader inthe beverage preparation machine. The machine readable code may be anRFID tag and/or a barcode, e.g. a 2D-, 3D-, matrix-, or QR-barcode.Thus, the surface of the tab 11 may both be provided for handling thecontainer 1 and for bearing information, thereby being both a handlingtab and an identification tab.

The tab 11 may be shaped to bring the container 1 in a defined positionand/or orientation in a beverage preparation machine. For example, thetab 11 or a structure of the tab 11, e.g. the below described secondside edges, is shaped correspondingly to a part of the beveragepreparation machine such as of the holder of the beverage preparationmachine. As such, the corresponding connection or engagement between the(structure of) the tab 11 and the beverage preparation machine bringsthe container 1 in the defined position and/or orientation. In thedefined position and/or orientation, the beverage preparation machinecan appropriately process the container 1, e.g. the beverage preparationmachine can appropriately read the information provided on the tab 11and/or inject water into the container 1 for preparing the beverage.Thus, with the tab 11 an erroneous operation of the beverage preparationmachine with the container 1 can be effectively prevented.

The tab 11 comprises a plurality of second side (or peripheral) edges12, 13, 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tab11 comprises only three second side edges 12, 13, 14. The second sideedges 12, 13, 14 delimit the tab 11 or the surface of the tab 11. Thesecond side edges 12, 13 are side edges, which are laterally providedwith respect to the tab 11. That is, each of the second side edges 12,13 extend from the proximal end of the tab 11 to the distal end of thetab 11. For example, each of the second side edges 12, 13 mergescontinuously with the first side edge 4 or, if present, with arespective one of a plurality of first side edges 4. The second sideedge 14 is provided at the distal end of the tab 11. As exemplarilyshown in FIG. 1 , the second side edge 14 may merge discontinuously withthe laterally provided second side edges 12, 13, respectively. In otherexamples, the second side edge 14 may also merge continuously with thelaterally provided side edges 12, 13. For example, the second side edges12, 13, 14 may form a single second side edge, which delimits the(surface of the) tab 11.

According to the invention, at least one of the second side edges 12,13, 14 is at least in part complementary formed to the one or more firstside edges 4. Due to this complementary form of the first side edge 4 onthe one side and the at least one (or each) of the second side edges 12,13, 14 on the other side, the container 1 and in particular the frontpart 3 can be produced with a reduced amount of waste, since thematerial, which would be actually waste material, is now used forobtaining the tab 11. More specifically, and with reference to FIG. 2 ,the tab 11, i.e. the second side edges 12, 13, 14, may be obtained orformed by obtaining, e.g. cutting or separating such as punching, one ormore further front parts 3′ of other containers. As apparent from FIG. 2, the front part 3 and the further front parts 3′ may be obtained from asame blank 30 and/or may be identically formed, when viewed in a planview of the blank 30 or the front parts 3, 3′. The blank 30 may beprovided in the form of having a (single) flat surface, and/or may befrom a roll of material.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of the secondside edges 12, 13, 14 of the tab 11 is at least in part or entirelycomplementary formed to the first side edge 4. As apparent from FIG. 2 ,an area or a region of the blank 30 may be delimited by three frontparts 3′ (“first front parts”) to be obtained from the blank 30; forexample, the area may be between the circular shapes of the front parts3, 3′. These three front parts 3′ are obtained from the blank 30, e.g.by separating at least along the respective first side edge 4, such thatthe before-mentioned area or region is separated from these three frontparts 3′, but still integrally formed with another front part 3 (“secondfront part”) to be obtained from the blank 30. Thus, the area orregion—previously delimited by the three (first) front parts 3′ to beobtained from the blank 30—becomes the tab 11 being integrally formedwith the remaining (second) front part 3. Thereby, each of the secondside edges 12, 13, 14 of the tab 11 of the second front part 3 iscomplementary formed to the first side edge 4 of the first three frontparts 3, thereby resulting in substantially no waste for obtaining thesefour front parts 3, 3′.

The second side edges 12, 13, 14 are not limited to a specific shape aslong as at least one of these second side edges 12, 13, 14 iscomplementary formed to the first side edge 4, thereby resulting in areduced amount of waste. A form is to be understood “complementaryformed” to another form, when the forms can be connected, or cooperate,with each other such that substantially no clearance is formed betweenthe forms. For example, in case the complementary forms are roundshaped, the complementary forms have substantially equal diameters. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of the second side edges 12, 13, 14 haspreferably a concave shape, since the first side edge 4 has a convexshape. In other embodiments, the second side edges 12, 13, 14 may alsohave a different shape, e.g. a polygonal, rectangular, or straightshape. With such a design, a plurality of containers 1 respectivelyfront parts 3 can be put together like a jigsaw puzzle, thereby forminga single surface (when viewed in a plan view of this surface) withoutany clearances formed by putting together the front parts 3, as shown inFIG. 2 .

In FIGS. 3-6 , a container 1 according to a second preferred embodimentis shown. The container 1 according to the second preferred embodimentsubstantially corresponds to the container 1 according to the firstembodiment as described above, unless otherwise specified in thefollowing.

The container 1 according to the second embodiment differs from thecontainer 1 according to the first embodiment in particular in that thecontainer 1, i.e. its front part 3, comprises a plurality of tabs,namely the tab 11 and a further tab 21. In other embodiments, the frontpart 3 may also comprise more than two tabs. The further tab 21substantially corresponds to the tab 11 so that the description of thetab 11 applies correspondingly to the further tab 21, unless otherwisestated. Therefore, the further tab 21 also includes one or more secondside edges 22, 23, 24, out of which the side edges 22, 23 are laterallyprovided side edges, and the side edge 24 is provided at a distal end ofthe further tab 21. The further tab 11 may be used for a differentfunction than the tab 11. For example, the tab 11 is only used as thehandling tab, wherein, additionally or alternatively, the further tab 21is only used as the identification tab.

The tabs 11, 21 may extend in different directions and/or in the sameplane. As apparent from, in particular, FIG. 3 , the tabs 11, 21 may bearranged to be diametrically opposed. The tabs 11, 21 may be arrangedsuch that by handling the container 1 by way of the tab 11 to be putinside of the beverage preparation machine, the further tab 21 isbrought into a position and/or orientation, in which the beveragepreparation machine can read the information provided on the further tab21. The further tab 21 may be, as apparent from FIG. 3 , shorter thanthe tab 11 so that in particular the surface of the further tab 21 (i.e.the surface, which can be seen in the plan view of the front part 3) issmaller than the surface of the tab 21. For example, the surface of thefurther tab 21 may be such that the surface substantially only comprisesthe information (e.g. a barcode), i.e. the information covers the entiresurface of the further tab 21.

The second embodiment of the container 1 also differs from the firstembodiment of the container 1 in that one of the second side edges ofeach of the tabs 11, 21 is (at least in part or entirely) complementaryformed to a second side edge of the respective other one of the tabs 11,21. As apparent from, for example, FIGS. 3 and 5 , the second side edge14 a (i.e. the third side edge 14A), which is provided at the distal endof the tab 11, is complementary formed to the (third) second side edge24 of the further tab 21, which is also provided at the distal end ofthe further tab 21. The respective other two second side edges 12, 13,22, 23 are each at least in part complementary formed to the one or morefirst side edges 4.

As apparent from FIG. 4 and, in particular, FIG. 5 , an area (or aregion) of the blank 30 is delimited by two front parts 3′ (“first frontparts”) to be obtained from the blank 30; for example, the area may bebetween the circular shapes of the front parts 3, 3′. These two frontparts 3′ are obtained from the blank 30, e.g. by separating at leastalong the respective first side edge(s) 4. The before-mentioned area isalso separated along the second side edge 24—and thus along the secondside edge 14A—such that this area is separated in a first part and asecond part. The first part of this area remains integrally formed witha (“second”) front part 3 (but separated from the respective other frontparts), thereby forming the further tab 21 of this front part 3. Thesecond part of this area remains integrally formed with a further(“second”) front part 3, but separated from the respective other frontparts, thereby forming the tab 11 of this further front part 3. Thus,the area or region—previously delimited by the two (“first”) front parts3′ to be obtained from the blank 30—becomes the tab ii and the furthertab 21 being integrally formed with a (“second”) front part 3 and afurther (“second”) front part 3, respectively. Thereby, for obtainingthe tabs 11, 21 of a plurality of front parts, substantially no waste isgenerated. Further, with the second side edges 12, 13 and the secondside edges 22, 23 being complementary formed to the first side edges 4of the respective other front parts 3, waste during manufacturing issignificantly reduced.

The second side edges 14A, 24 are not limited to a specific shape aslong as they are complementary formed to one another, thereby resultingin a reduced amount of waste. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , the secondside edge 14A has preferably a convex (e.g. round) shape, and the secondside edge 24 has thus a concave (e.g. round) shape. In otherembodiments, the second side edges 14A, 24 may also have a differentshape, e.g. a polygonal, rectangular, and/or straight shape.

The container 1 is not limited to a specific material. For example, the(entire) container 1 or at least the front part 3 and/or back part ismade of a flexible or semi-flexible material and/or of a materialcomprising plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminum, and/or a multilayerlaminate. Additionally or alternatively, the (entire) container 1 or atleast the front part 3 and/or the back part may be made of abiodegradable and/or compostable (home compostable or industriallycompastable) material, e.g. a material comprising a compostable polymer,paper, and/or cellulose. A material is to be understood as “compostable”or “biodegradable” when the material fulfills the requirementsestablished by the European Norm EN 13431 (“Packaging—Requirements forpackaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation—Test schemeand evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging”).

It should be clear to a skilled person that the embodiments shown in thefigures are only preferred embodiments, but that, however, also otherdesigns of a container 1 can be used.

1. A container for use in a beverage preparation machine, comprising: asealed body for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage, thesealed body comprising a back part and a front part, which are sealedalong one or more first side edges, and the front part comprises one ormore tabs integrally formed with the front part, wherein each of the oneor more tabs has one or more second side edges, wherein at least one ofthe one or more second side edges is at least in part complementaryformed to the one or more first side edges.
 2. The container accordingto claim 1, wherein the one or more second side edges are formed byobtaining one or more further front parts of other containers, such asby obtaining one or more first side edges and/or one or more second sideedges of the one or more further front parts.
 3. A container for use ina beverage preparation machine, comprising: a sealed body for containingan ingredient for preparing a beverage, the sealed body comprising aback part and a front part, which are sealed along one or more firstside edges, and the front part comprises one or more tabs integrallyformed with the front part, wherein each of the one or more tabs has oneor more second side edges, wherein the one or more second side edges areformed by obtaining one or more further front parts of other containers.4. The container according to claim 2, wherein the front part and theone or more further front parts are obtained from the same blank and/orare identically formed.
 5. The container according to claim 1, whereinthe one or more tabs include a handling tab for handling the container.6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the one or more tabsinclude an identification tab comprising information, e.g. in the formof a code, for processing the container in a beverage preparationmachine.
 7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the one or moretabs are shaped to bring the container in a defined position and/ororientation in a beverage preparation machine.
 8. The containeraccording to claim 1, wherein the tabs extend in different directions,and/or wherein the tabs are arranged to be diametrically opposed, and/orwherein the tabs extend in a same plane.
 9. The container according toclaim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more second side edges is aside edge being laterally provided with respect to the respective tab.10. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the oneor more second side edges is a side edge being provided at a distal endof the respective tab.
 11. The container according to claim 1, whereinthe one or more second side edges of one of the tabs include a secondside edge being complementary formed to a second side edge of a furtherone of the tabs, and/or wherein the one or more second side edges of theone or more tabs include a second side edge being formed by obtainingone or more tabs of further front parts of other containers.
 12. Thecontainer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one ormore second side edges has a concave shape, wherein the one or morefirst side edges have thus a convex shape.
 13. The container accordingto claim 1, wherein each of the one or more tabs has only three secondside edges, wherein, preferably, each of the second side edges of arespective tab is at least in part complementary formed to the one ormore first side edges.
 14. A process for manufacturing one or more firstfront parts and a second front part from a blank, wherein each frontpart is suitable for a container, wherein the container is adapted to beused in a beverage preparation machine, wherein the container comprisesa sealed body for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage, thesealed body comprising a back part and the respective front part,wherein the process comprises the following steps: providing a blank forobtaining the front parts, obtaining the one or more first front partsfrom the blank, and obtaining the second front part from the blank suchthe second front part comprises one or more tabs with each tabcomprising one or more side edges, which one or more side edges areformed by obtaining the one or more first front parts from the blank.15. The process according to claim 14, wherein the front parts areobtained by a separation process such as by punching.